Published on: November 11, 2025, 02:07h.
Updated on: November 11, 2025, 02:07h.
- Pennsylvania Skill game manufacturers are found accountable for a man’s murder in 2020
- Both Pace-O-Matic and Miele Manufacturing plan to contest the $15.3 million verdict
The entities behind the widely-accepted Pennsylvania Skill gaming machines, prevalent in local establishments throughout the state, have been judged responsible for a man’s death in 2020.
Defendants Pace-O-Matic (POM) and Miele Manufacturing, the software and hardware entities behind the skill-based gaming machines, have been ordered to compensate $15.3 million to Ashokkumar Patel’s estate due to the jury’s conclusion that they were negligent in relation to Patel’s murder on December 12, 2020.
Just a week into his employment, 50-year-old Patel was cleaning at Craig’s Food Mart, situated inside a Sunoco Gas Station, when a local drug dealer entered the store and fatally shot him. Patel was responsible for payout distributions to Pennsylvania Skill players during his shifts.
In court, it was later established that Jafet De Jesus Rodriguez was the perpetrator, who fled with merely $14,000 in cash. Rodriguez acknowledged losing significant amounts while playing the Pennsylvania Skill games.
Liability of POM and Miele
Rodriguez was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery, and theft, receiving a life sentence without parole in July.
The family of Patel pursued a wrongful death claim against the store owner and Sunoco, which was settled outside of court. POM and Miele chose to contest the suit, a decision that may prove to be financially detrimental.
The jury in Philadelphia agreed with the plaintiffs’ argument that the unregulated gaming devices made by POM and Miele fostered perilous environments for employees like Patel.
Pace-O-Matic has developed a massive business in Pennsylvania focused solely on maximizing profits, neglecting the safety of vulnerable, low-wage staff, forced to handle large payouts without adequate protection from foreseeable dangers. On behalf of the Patel family, we hope Pace-O-Matic takes note of the jury’s decisive ruling—that prioritizing profits over safety can have dire repercussions,” stated Robert Zimmerman, attorney for the Patel estate from the Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky firm.
Skill games like Pennsylvania Skill operate similarly to traditional slot machines in Pennsylvania’s 17 licensed casinos. Nevertheless, players can marginally influence their payout by selecting winning combinations, unlike casino slots which automatically credit payouts.
The traditional casino sector, heavily regulated and taxed, opposes these unregulated skill games, arguing they siphon business from licensed establishments. Additionally, they express concerns regarding consumer safety, as these machines lack fair play monitoring and have inadequate responsible gaming measures, often being more accessible to minors than casinos.
Local governments, including the Philadelphia City Council, assert that skill games have contributed to unsafe conditions in neighborhood convenience stores.
Anticipated Appeal
POM and Miele have voiced their disagreement with the jury’s verdict.
We intend to appeal and believe we will prevail,” stated representatives for the companies.
“The passing of Ashokkumar Patel is distressing and represents a significant loss for his family. Regarding the lawsuit initiated by Mr. Patel’s estate, we maintain that Pace-O-Matic should not be held accountable for the actions connected to the crime,” the statement concluded.